Month: July 2024

They call all around this area, the “Fifth Continent” – they say the world is made up of 4 quarters….and then there is Dungeness. I always think it is a fascinating place.  So, the mornings walk was around Dungeness where there are over 600 species of plants!

Our other favourite eatery in Dungeness is the Snack Shack where they have amazing freshly caught fish so we went there for lunch. I had a lobster roll. Mal had fish and chips which is nothing like you have anywhere else.

We have been here so many times and always loved the food. Even in the winter, if it is too cold, we just take the food to the car!

Of course the view, one way the beach, the other way….the nuclear power plant!

Next to the shack is a fish shop selling the produce, so we bought a crab and had that in the evening!!

On the way out of Dungeness we were held up by the Romney, Hythe and  Dymchurch  railway train.  It is the smallest passenger railway in the world.

We spent the afternoon sitting outside the caravan in the sun! Mal being the clown as usual!

We found a couple of things missing in the caravan and so told reception. Tamsin was in there and remembered us from our previous visits, so things were brought straight to the caravan. I have to say customer service there has improved greatly since Tamsin took over!

We took Ellie to Greatstone Beach. I really can’t believe that beach is always so empty. We did see a few jellyfish and kept Ellie away from them.

Of course she did want to go in the sea.

From there we headed to Dungeness and had a very slow lunch. One bar in the pub is for people with dogs and the other side is for people without dogs! Ellie just lies under the table, never a problem.

We both had the fish pie and it was so good! The pub has an interesting history, it was originally built form the wreck of the Spanish ship the Alfresia in 1633. Another bit of information, Dungeness is the only desert  in the UK.

We went for a long walk in the afternoon. A trip to the clubhouse early evening but dogs aren’t allowed in there after 6pm.

Torin’s birthday. It certainly doesn’t get any easier.

We normally go away in “celebration” of his birthday but we couldn’t book anything this year as we didn’t know what was happening with Mal. But after Friday and the catheter removal, Mal decided we would get away! It was a last minute booking at Marlie, New Romney. It was too short notice to tell Jack so I said I’d go into work and then we would leave as soon as I arrived home. It’s not that far and anyway they don’t let you in until 4pm.

We arrived at Marlie about 5.30. We usually have a lodge but of course they had all gone so we had a caravan which was very nice. We just dumped our things in The caravan and then went to the pub across the road, The Warren Inn, for dinner. It is always good food there and they love dogs. Nice people too and we chatted with some of the locals.

It’s a nice old fashioned pub. Of course we had Guiness to toast Torin – a tradition!

A lovely walk around the orchards and the apricots. Ellie does love her roll around the grass.

Surprisingly black clouds came over and we had some rain!

Later I was looking at some old photos and found this one exactly TEN years ago of Ellie!!

How lucky are we?!

Update – Mal had his operation, not quite as straightforward as it could have been but all OK and then the follow up was a nightmare trying to do what the consultant said only to find out that there aren’t enough staff for the response he would like! However Friday we spent again at Maidstone Hospital for the follow up and after all these months Mal is now catheter free. We took Ellie with us and I managed to find a park behind the hospital and a very cool wooded area to sit (it was the hottest day of the year so far! Typical) We had plenty of water with us and in between Mal was coming out and sitting with us.

The traffic was horrendous when we came out – the last day of school and loads of people heading for their getaway or heading for the coast. So, having sat in a few queues we headed for Faversham to drop some things off for Rhys and co. Lou, Rhys and Josie are in Spain at the moment. Ollie was working so we saw Oscar and as we missed his birthday outing (Mal wasn’t up to it), we took him out for a meal.

Lovely to see him. As they get older we don’t see grandkids as often as we’d like. They have their own lives. And this is how another has spent this week!

WOW!!

Finally on our journey back home we followed Waze, which took us all around the country lanes avoiding the getaway holidaymakers.

We both felt a lot happier with Mal’s progress.

A lovely walk through the orchards. The apricots are nearly ready!

I have pages missing in my blog, all will be explained later.

So, the men’s singles and yeah!!!!! Alcaraz won. Time for a Pimms.

Of course in the evening we watched the Euros final. Well, the best team won and it wasn’t England! Rhys is in Spain and they had fireworks going off after the game and also when Alcaraz won! BUT Grandad (Mal) won the Family sweepstake! So, not all bad news.

 

Someone is enjoying my garden while I watch the tennis!

Women’s final and then a terrific men’s doubles!

Thought for the Day – “Kind people are my kinda people.”